Eleven Marion County students to participate in Pig Squeal

HAMILTON — Last week, the Journal-Record published an article on the upcoming 4-H Pig Squeal. The article featured Avery McCullough from Hamilton. While the Pig Squeal will feature students from Fayette, Lamar, Pickens, Walker and Winston counties, Marion County will also be well-represented. Eleven students from across the county will compete at the event.
Those students participating are as follows: from Hamilton, Mason Eller, sixth grade; Daxton Wilson, fourth grade; Kennedy Casey, fifth grade; Brooks Casey, seventh grade; and Avery McCullough, fifth grade; from Guin, Mack Markham, Jaxon Nix and Ross Seaborn, all fifth graders; from Winfield, Nathan Williamson, eleventh grade; from Brilliant, Natalie Barbee, fifth grade; and Adilyn Wilkinson, age 9.
4-H Regional Extension Agent Rebecca Danley described the beginning process for the students.
“We do a mandatory meeting with the youth and families, giving them information to get ready for their pigs,” Danley said. “Youth must take an online Pork Quality Assurance training to get them certified for caring for their animal. This training teaches food safety, animal well-being, stewardship and biosecurity practices. On Jan. 20, youth picked up their pigs at the Fayette Multipurpose arena and took them home to start caring for them. Youth must undergo a home visit with their 4-H agent to ensure the pig is in good health and is being cared for properly.”
While the students seek sponsorships for the pigs they care for, Danley explains the money is mostly cost recovery. Expenses go beyond just food for the pig, such as material for a pen.
“Youth doing this project aren’t in it for money,” she explained. “They seem to be in this project to learn how to grow healthy pigs, to have some meat in their freezer at the end of the project and to learn how to properly show pigs in a real ‘pig show.’”
Participants in the show must use proper body positioning and eye contact with the judge, Danley said.
“This takes discipline and patience as they work their pig in the ring with multiple other participants and pigs at the same time,” Danley pointed out.
The Pig Squeal will be held on Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m., at the Fayette County Multipurpose Complex at 650 McConnell Loop in Fayette.